Mobile Application Development Made Easier with Cross-Platform Frameworks
Here at Vanguard, we are big believers in a mobile friendly approach, and build websites to function smoothly across all devices, but we understand your organization may have different needs and may require a mobile application in addition to your website.
Development of a website and mobile applications that reflect the same user experience would require three teams as they are all built off of different technology: one for the website, Android, and iOS. Each team would have to try to match functionality between each platform with the different limitations that comes with each. While the scope between an Android and iOS application might match, they are likely to be a different experience than what the web development team is creating. With a great front-end team it is not impossible to have a consistent experience across platforms and with the mobile version of the website but it can be difficult.
If you are thinking about developing an app(s) to compliment your website, you should know there is now a collection of cross-platform frameworks that cut down on that technical overhead, more easily create a consistent experience, and speed your way to getting your app onto the iOS and Google Play stores. To name a few of these frameworks:
- NativeScript, first developed by Progress, the makers of Sitefinity, is an open-source app development framework using JavaScript and JavaScript-like languages.
- Xamarin is an open source Microsoft framework using .Net and C#.
- React Native is Facebook’s offering based on the React JavaScript library.
It is important to note that each framework has its own strengths and weaknesses. Cost, performance, and ease of use should all be considered carefully. If you have questions about mobile applications or would just like to learn more about these frameworks that make it possible, reach out to your Vanguard client manager.